this weekend, as vice president biden prepares for a trip to asia, the obama administration weighed in for the first time, urging the north koreans to release newman, given his advanced age and health conditions. >> we just hope whatever that misunderstanding is will be resolved. >> reporter: the newman family hoping to have him home before the new year. susan saulny, abc news, washington. >>> israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu inviting proep francis to israel. the vatican confirmed a papal visit for late may. netanyahu and his italian counterpart lit a menorah. he hopes the light will offer hope to italy which he says needs it. italy has been hit hard by economic problems and political scandals. >>> health care website has made major progress from the disastrous beginnings but there are still flaws. jeff zelenyb< washington. >> reporter: hundreds of software fixes and the system. >> by the end of march, people think they could have 6 to 8 million people enrolled for health care. >> as president obama told abc's barbara walters his legacy may depend on it. >> the good thing abou